Back-to-back wins in Iowa and New Hampshire have the nation bracing for a rematch between Trump and Biden. This episode explores how other nations are dealing with the ‘strongman’ wannabe dictator phenomenon. Maybe there are lessons to glean from the experiences of other countries. So in that spirit we’re going to do some globetrotting to look at three countries in two states of authoritarianism at present and one in recovery like the U.S.

Chapters

Sketch: 00:00:00

Intro: 00:04:33

Subject One: Brazil: 00:07:37

Subject Two: China: 00:16:37

Subject Three: India: 00:22:35

This Episode Online

Essay

Resources

Video

Resources

Agência Brasil: Brazil jumps two places, becomes world’s ninth largest economy in 2023

International Valor: Brazil’s GDP growth to halve in 2024 without economic stimulus

Diálogo Chino: Lula’s first year sees mixed results on climate and environment

World Socialist Web Site: International financial markets hail first year of Brazil’s Lula government

Reuters: Lula's approval ratings inch up ahead of Brazil's local elections -poll

Reuters: Brazil's Lula to leave with record-high popularity

Independent: Watch Antony Blinken's reaction as Joe Biden calls Xi Jinping 'dictator'

Business Insider: China's economy is trapped in a downward spiral that authoritarian regimes are doomed to repeat

The Guardian: Xi Jinping handed unprecedented third term as China’s president

Jeffrey D. Sachs: The US economic war on China

Financial Times: Antony Blinken blasts China in first phone call

Reuters: Blinken expresses U.S. concern about China's growing nuclear arsenal

Buildr: China's Ghost Cities: The Truth Behind The Empty Megacities

The New York Times: China Is Lending Billions to Countries in Financial Trouble

CNBC: China's big property market problem will take at least 4 to 6 years to resolve

USA Today: He's into yoga, Hindu nationalism: India's leader Modi, once banned by US, now Biden's guest

Times of India: With approval rating of 76%, PM Modi most popular global leader: Morning Consult

Forbes India :The top 10 largest economies in the world in 2024

NPR: India's population passes 1.4 billion — and that's not a bad thing

Oxfam International: India: extreme inequality in numbers

Al Jazeera: ‘Might get worse’: As Modi unveils Ram temple, Indian Muslims fear future

Council on Foreign Relations: India’s Muslims: An Increasingly Marginalized Population

TIME: How India Became Pro-Israel

--

If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR

Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.

Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565

Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.

Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.

Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.

Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.

Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.

Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.

Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®."